Where to eat in Málaga City Center?
We all think the same when we travel: I want to eat well, preferably at a good price, and if it’s traditional from the place, even better! But none of us are free from falling into tourist traps from time to time. Not even when traveling within our own country! That’s why we offer you this guide to the best places to eat in Málaga, which we will try to update as much as possible. Because that’s another problem: if the list of recommended places we have is from someone who visited Málaga a year ago, there’s a chance that the restaurant, bar, or tavern has closed.
Tapas in Málaga (or as we say: picoteo)
One thing you should know is that in Málaga, it’s not as common as in Granada, Almería, or Jaén to get a tapa with your drink. There are many places where it does happen, but generally, it’s in the neighborhoods and not in the center. In Málaga, due to our character, it’s more common to share a half portion or a full portion with friends and family. It has a social component opposite to the individual nature of the tapa. After all, when they “give” you the tapa, it’s usually because its price is partially included in the drink.
Top 5+2 Best Tascas in Málaga
Tascas are synonymous with good quality at a good price, without frills, possibly even without a tablecloth. Local atmosphere, which in Málaga translates to cheerful bustle, laughter here and there, and basically enjoying life with a Victoria (the local beer par excellence), a “tinto de verano” (we sell sangria more than we consume it), and of course, some local specialty to share. Here are the best places to enjoy like a true boquerón:
- Tasca La Salita. Great quality, fantastic atmosphere, and even better prices. The ultimate hook: vermouth in a large glass for just over €2. Montadito de pringá, cuttlefish in sauce, or even the tortilla skewer; the variety of typical local and national dishes combined with the spectacular service will make you the one recommending La Salita to your friends and family. Don’t worry if you’re more of a beer person than a vermouth fan: in 2020, they won the award for Best Beer Pullers in Spain.
Located on Calle Mariblanca, very close to Plaza de la Merced, and open every day from noon to midnight.
- La Peregrina. Very close to La Salita, on Calle Madre de Dios, you’ll find one of the best taverns if you’re in the mood for fish and seafood, as traditional in any coastal city. Shrimp, clams, anchovies, fine shells… and if someone in your group doesn’t particularly enjoy fish or seafood, there are also dishes for other tastes. And delicious ones, by the way.
Like almost all places that offer fresh seafood, they are closed on Sunday afternoons and Mondays.
- Cortijo de Pepe. More than half a century delighting our stomachs with delicacies like Grilled Octopus. Although some of us confess to being true fans of the Ardales Chorizo that you can try at the bar. In fact, here you have two options: sit at a table and eat à la carte, or opt for the bar and go for tapas. Either way, you have a lot of variety to choose from. The difficult part will be precisely choosing.
- El Túnel del Pimpi / El Rincón de los Pintores. El Pimpi needs no introduction or recommendation. It deserves credit for adapting to the times and always being an emblem in the city. But precisely because of that and because there are still people who don’t know, you should know that it has various atmospheres. And today, the most local way to enjoy it is to go to the two corners you’ll find on either side of its main entrance on Calle Granada. High tables, yes, and narrow corridors. But a blackboard with tapas and some as delicious as the Lamb in Sauce or with Moorish Style.
Casa Lola. There are several: on Calle Granada, Calle Strachan, and Plaza de Uncibay. The latter perhaps offers the most authentic experience for locals today because it’s in a square where, more or less, we’ve all spent many afternoons and evenings. Traditional tapas and picoteo with fusion touches at a very good price. But make room in your stomach early or be prepared to queue, because it tends to be very crowded.
¡BONUS!
All the places mentioned above offer very good quality at a more than reasonable price (€10-20 per person). But if that still exceeds your idea of what you want to spend on lunch or dinner, here are two more places:
Las Merchanas. Offers well-loaded dishes at an ideal price on Calle Nosquera and Calle Andrés Pérez. It also has a unique feature: both the decoration and the background music are dedicated to Málaga’s Holy Week.
La Taberna de Álvaro. A family corner between Calle Ángel and Calle Capitán, almost an oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Plazas del Carbón and el Siglo. Very economical prices for small tapas, but some like the Montadito de pringá are delicious!
And these are just 5+2 of our favorites. There are more spots waiting to enter this ranking and they certainly deserve it, like El Carpintero, Mesón Ibérico, La Campana, El Cenachero, or La Pechá. There will be more culinary recommendations on our blog, and if the place is good, they are surely already included or will be in other entries! Eating in Málaga is quite an experience for both tourists and locals, but you have to know how to choose. We hope we have helped!
This entry was last updated in September 2024.